Penwith Moors - Lanyon Quoit and Men-An-Tol Walk
This walk explores a fascinating area of the Penwith Moors SSSI in Cornwall.
It's an interesting place with ancient bronze age settlements, a stone circle, the ruins of the old mining buildings and some hill climbs with tremendous views to the coast. You'll also visit Men-An-Tol standing stones and the Lanyon Quoit dolmen, two significant ancient sites on the moors.
There is a roadside parking area just south east of the village of Morvah. From here you can pick up a trail heading east to Men-An-Tol. It's a very picturesque area with the stones surrounded by lovely countryside and pretty wildflowers in the summer months. The site itself consists of three upright granite stones, including an unusual round stone with its middle holed out.
The walk then goes on to climb to the excellent viewpoints at Watch Croft (252m) and Carn Galver (229m), where there is a ruined mine engine house.
The route then descends to visit the Nine Maidens Stone Circle at Boskednan. The megalithic monument probably consisted of 22 granite blocks, from which 10 still survive.
From the stone circle you head west to visit the 19th century Greenburrow Engine House at the old Ding Dong Mine. There are great views from the photogenic ruined mine over Mounts Bay.
From here you continue west and then south to visit the impressive dolmen at Lanyon Quoit. The structure originally dated from the early Neolithic period (3500-2500 BCE) but was re-erected in 1824 after collapsing in a storm in 1815. It consisits of three support stones which stand to a height of 1.5 metres. These bear a capstone which is 5.5 metres long.
The Zennor Churchway and Tinners Way passes through the area. The long distance circular walk exposes you to more of the mining heritage of the area. You could follow it west towards the coast to visit Levant Mine in Pendeen. The mine is located close to the cliff edge so there's some wonderful sea views from here.
Postcode
TR20 8NT - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsPenwith Moors and Men-An-Tol Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Penwith Moors and Men-An-Tol Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Penwith Moors and Men-An-Tol OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Penwith Moors and Men-An-Tol Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
Near Carn Galver there's the Rosemergy Farmhouse where you can enjoy a delicious cream tea. There's a delightful tea garden with stunning sea views onto the Atlantic Ocean and the North Cornish moors. The cafe is located close to Carn Galver Engine House on the northern fringes of the walk. Postcode is TR20 8YX. They are dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Just to the north east there's Gurnards Head where there's a fine cliff top path and some wonderful sea views.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Ruin at sunset, West Penwith moorland
Greenburrow engine house, Madron, Cornwall. This example of a Cornish engine house, built in 1865, is a prominent landmark high on the Penwith moors.
Colourful Men-an-Tol. The site is thought to date to either the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age. The holed stone could originally have been a natural occurrence rather than deliberately sculpted.
Watch Croft
Carn Galver Mine
Boskednan Nine Maidens Circle. Looking north-west toward Carn Galver in the distance. Taken shortly after the 'circle' was restored. Stone circles such as that at Boskednan, were erected in the late Neolithic or in the early Bronze Age by representatives of a Megalithic culture.
Path across Bosullow Common
Lanyon Quoit